Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai Awarded 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for Breakthrough in "Mirror Image" Molecules

Scientists Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai have been named the winners of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 7, 2026, for solving a longstanding riddle regarding asymmetric "mirror image" molecules, which is a discovery of immense importance for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the pair—Henri Kagan, 95, from France; and Kenso Soai, 76, from Japan—were honoured for their groundbreaking work on nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. Their research demonstrates how chemical reactions can be manipulated to favour a single molecular mirror image, serving as a vital tool for chemists who design reactions to produce pharmaceuticals.

Many molecules essential to life exist in two forms that act as mirror images of each other, much like left and right hands. However, living organisms almost exclusively utilize only one version—a phenomenon known as homochirality, derived from the Greek word for hand—which has baffled chemists for over a century.

Peter Somfai, a member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, noted that different versions of a drug can produce entirely different effects, making selective preparation methods essential. He stated that the findings of this year’s laureates provide powerful tools for achieving this. Heiner Linke, chair of the committee, praised the two scientists for solving a chemical mystery over a century old regarding how homochirality emerges spontaneously, describing their developed chemical reactions as spectacular.

Speaking by phone to the Nobel Prize news conference, Kenso Soai shared that he was out shopping when the news reached him, calling it the most exciting day of his life and expressing joy in sharing the prize with Professor Henri Kagan.

In the previous year, the chemistry award was presented to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi for their development of metal-organic frameworks.